We took Brody to the doctor on Friday for a follow-up bilirubin check. His level upon check-out from the hospital was 7.4, so the pediatrician wanted us to re-check him in a couple days to make sure it wasn’t going up. When we got it checked on Friday, it was 16. Our pediatrician didn’t think Brody looked very yellow and actually did a second check to make sure it was correct- unfortunately, it was. So, we were given an order for a bili-blanket, which is basically a paddle of UV light that sits against Brody’s back under his clothes. The light is supposed to help break up the bilirubin so that Brody’s body can pass it out through his stool and urine.
He had to be hooked up to the blanket 24/7, unless he was getting a bath or a diaper change. It’s definitely bulky with a huge heavy cord behind his back and not very comfortable for him, plus since it has to plug in, it’s not very mobile. I’ve been spending most of the day in the living room with him while Knox has played with Trevor in the playroom. I was VERY ready to go back to the doctor this morning for his bilirubin check so we could get rid of it!! That didn’t go the way I had hoped. His level only dropped to 15.3 down from 16. Which means at least two more days of this blanket.
Obviously, I am so grateful that they have this technology so that Brody can be home with us while under lights instead of having to stay in the NICU. That was our biggest prayer, that he would stay out of the NICU! However, I do not have to like that he has to be hooked up to something all day long! I’m only human, and I don’t think any one is thrilled when their baby has a problem of any sort. I know a lot of people had to use the bili-bed, which is even less portable, and I cannot imagine how that would have been. I seriously hate it, but at least I can still hold him and feed him!! I am so ridiculously hormonal right now that the tiniest mishap sends me into fits of crying/ emotional breakdowns. When I found out he had to go on the blanket to begin with, I barely held it together inside the office, but I lost it when we got in the car. Today, I pretty much freaked out the second I got in the car. I was so ready to have zero issues this time around, granted this is a VERY small issue, but it just caught me off-guard. Today, I was convinced the level would be much lower since we have been very faithful with the light on for at least 22 hours a day. It was just so disappointing.
We go back in on Wednesday, and I am praying so hard that he’s able to go off of the lights, then. One piece of good news is that Brody is now gaining weight! He was born at 7lbs 10oz, and was down to 7lbs even on Friday. Today he was 7lbs 3oz, so he gained just over an ounce a day, which is fantastic. Hopefully he’ll keep that up!
I really need to load pictures onto my computer because I have so many cute ones of Brody! I promise I’ll give you more of those soon!
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
I went through the same thing with my son and it was awful! I completely understand your frustration. I think my son had to be on the blanket 3-4 days and it was torture. But you’re right, it’s a small problem and in a week it will be over and forgotten. The hormones definitely don’t help the situation, either. I cried many tears over the jaundice and bili blanket.
Oh no! While it’s a small problem, it’s still annoying and frustrating. I hope that he is doing much better by Wednesday and no longer needs the blanket. And congrats on the weight gain! That should help him out, too.
UGH! I’m sorry. I know what you mean. If it’s not one thing it’s another. Greta has a clogged tear duct. Hopefully she doesn’t get her big brother’s heart murmur. We won’t know about that til about 2 months when his was caught.
I’m sorry about Greta’s tear duct! It’s scary when your first has or had an issue as a baby because you’re kind of waiting for it with the second. If anyone came near Brody with a stethoscope, I couldn’t help asking about a PDA like Knox had. Hopefully she won’t have a murmur!
All 3 of my youngest kids had jaundice and required the bili blanket at home for the first 5 days or so. It was a major pain in the rear. My youngest 2 were stuck in the bili bed while we were still admitted in the hospital and came home with the bili blanket. I cried many tears. It was just one.more.thing to deal with when you’re already exhausted and emotional.
I hope his levels come down quickly for you! He’s so cute that he makes me want another one. Ha! Take care of yourself.
You’re so right about it being just “one more thing” because I feel like its a thousand small things that add up and make me feel like I’m going to lose it! Hormones are killer, too!
I’m sorry you guys are having to deal with the bili blanket. We had a bili bed for 3 days after Claire was born. It was brutal, because I couldn’t really hold her except to feed her. I believe her levels got up to 15 before they finally started coming down, and that was after a full day and night on the bed – they went up before they came down. I hope that Brody’s start coming down soon.
We all “camped” in the living room since the bili bed was so awkward. Hubby was so concerned about her he wanted to sleep on the floor next to her. I was recovering from c-section so the floor was out of the question for me.
Hi Jessica! Congrats on Brody! We just had our second son in October and he had to be readmitted to the hospital at 5 days old for 2.5 days to treat his jaundice. Glad you can do it from home because I really missed our toddler when I was at the hospital.
How horrible to have to get re-admitted! I can’t imagine how hard that must have been for you guys.
Presley had jaundice and they never offered the bili blanket to us, she just had to stay under the lights for-freaking-ever! Between that and the heel poking everyday I was very ready to go home with a healthy baby! Prayers going up for baby Brody!
Aww sis, I’m sorry. I know what you mean about not having a perfectly normal experience. We played the jaundice game with Brennan and again with Beckett. It sucks and I did my fair share of hormonal crying after all my boys too. Hang in there. He’s beautiful and you’re doing an amazing job with them both!!
Poor baby!
I completely understand how you feel. My daughter who is now 3 spent her first week with two billi blankets. She had to have one behind her and one on top of her. It was my first baby and all I wanted to do was hold her and it made it so hard to do that easily. I felt like we couldn’t every get comfortable with both of the hoses coming out. I think we were able to stop them after 8 days. Her bili level was 22 when we go home from the hospital and they took them off when she got down to 12. Hang in there.
Ugh. I’m so sorry you’re having to go through the whole jaundice issue. Paxton had jaundice too. We thought we’d be able to leave the hospital the day after he was born, but we had to stay two extra days, and he had to stay under the lights the entire time. Like you said, I was a complete wreck. I sobbed and sobbed for what seemed like forever and was just unable to stop. I just desperately wanted to hold him. It was a tough couple days, but all’s well that ends well. My husband went down to the gift shop to get something to cheer me up. He brought back a stuffed animal that we named Billy Ruben. He watched over Paxton at the hospital, and he still loves him.